System for assigning data processing activities to users through an interactive display interface dynamically granting access only during activity to normally inaccessible resources needed for activity

Abstract

A method for limiting access to the proprietary resources of an outsourcer or distributor to the participants/operators having assigned outsourced activities requiring such resources. Access is limited only to the assigned activity execution and prevented from misuse of the resources for unauthorized purposes. Reliable tracking of the lent out resources is provided and access is terminated simply when the associated activity has been completed. An implementation is provided for assigning performable activities to a user or operator together with interactively displaying in association with each activity, the computer resources needed to carry out the respective activity in combination with means, responsive to said assigning means, for granting to said operator through this interactive display, access to the computer resources needed to carry out said assigned performable activity only during the carrying out of said activity, whereby the displayed resource is removed from the display and, thus, becomes inaccessible upon the completion of the activity.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A computer controlled interactive display system for assigning data processing activities to users through display interfaces comprising: 
       means for selecting a plurality of user performable activities,  
       means for predetermining for each performable activity, at least one normally inaccessible computer resource needed to carry out each performable activity,  
       means for interactively displaying in association with each of said user performable activity, the at least one computer resource needed to carry out the respective activity,  
       means for assigning a performable activity to a user, and  
       means, responsive to said assigning means, for granting to said user through said means for interactively displaying, access to the at least one computer resource needed to carry out said assigned performable activity only during the carrying out of said activity, whereby said resource becomes inaccessible upon the completion of said activity.  
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , further including: 
       means for providing to said user access to a plurality of basic computer resources without limitation to any assigned performable activity, and  
       whereby the computer resources made accessible to said user for carrying out said assigned activity boost the resources provided to the respective operators.  
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2  wherein said means for providing said basic computer resources include means for displaying a basic set of elements each representing a basic computer resource selectively accessible by said user. 
     
     
       4. In a network including a plurality of interconnected computer controlled display stations for receiving and sending data, a system for assigning data processing activities to users at receiving display stations comprising: 
       means for selecting a plurality of user performable activities,  
       means for predetermining for each performable activity, at least one normally inaccessible computer resource needed to carry out each performable activity,  
       means for assigning a performable activity to a user, and  
       means for sending to said user at a receiving display station, data representative of said assigned activity including:  
       means for accessing said computer resource needed to carry out said assigned activity by interactively displaying said resource at said receiving display station in association with said assigned activity, only during the carrying out of said activity, whereby said resource becomes inaccessible upon the completion of said activity.  
     
     
       5. The network system of  claim 4  wherein said network is the Internet, and said means for sending said data to said user is through electronic mail. 
     
     
       6. The network system of  claim 5  wherein: 
       said means for interactively displaying said resource at the receiving display station is in the form of an inbox display listing said assigned activity, and  
       further including means for activating said assigned activity to thereby interactively display said at last one resource needed to carry out said assigned activity.  
     
     
       7. A computer controlled interactive display method for assigning data processing activities to users through display interfaces comprising: 
       selecting a plurality of user performable activities,  
       predetermining for each performable activity, at least one normally inaccessible computer resource needed to carry out each performable activity,  
       interactively displaying in association with each of said user performable activities, the at least one computer resource needed to carry out the respective activity,  
       assigning a performable activity to a user, and  
       granting to said user through said interactively displaying, access to the at least one computer resource needed to carry out said assigned performable activity only during the carrying out of said activity, whereby said resource becomes inaccessible upon the completion of said activity.  
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further including the step of: 
       providing to said user access to a plurality of basic computer resources without limitation to any assigned performable activity, and  
       whereby the computer resources made accessible to said user for carrying out said assigned activity boost the resources provided to the respective operators.  
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein said step of providing said basic computer resources includes displaying a basic set of elements each representing a basic computer resource selectively accessible by said user. 
     
     
       10. In a network including a plurality of interconnected computer controlled display stations for receiving and sending data, a method for assigning data processing activities to users at receiving display stations comprising: 
       selecting a plurality of user performable activities,  
       predetermining for each performable activity, at least one normally inaccessible computer resource needed to carry out each performable activity,  
       assigning a performable activity to a user, and  
       sending to said user at a receiving display station, data representative of said assigned activity including:  
       accessing said computer resource needed to carry out said assigned activity by interactively displaying said resource at said receiving display station in association with said assigned activity, only during the carrying out of said activity, whereby said resource becomes inaccessible upon the completion of said activity.  
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said network is the Internet, and said means for sending said data to said user is through electronic mail. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein: 
       said step for interactively displaying said resource at the receiving display station is displayed the form of an inbox display listing said assigned activity, and  
       said method further includes the step of activating said assigned activity to thereby interactively display said at least one resource needed to carry out said assigned activity.  
     
     
       13. A computer program having program code included on a computer readable medium operable in a computer controlled interactive display system for assigning data processing activities to users through display interfaces comprising: 
       means for selecting a plurality of user performable activities,  
       means for predetermining for each performable activity, at least one normally inaccessible computer resource needed to carry out each performable activity,  
       means for interactively displaying in association with each of said user performable activities, the at least one computer resource needed to carry out the respective activity,  
       means for assigning a performable activity to a user, and  
       means, responsive to said assigning means, for granting to said user through said means for interactively displaying, access to the at least one computer resource needed to carry out said assigned performable activity only during the carrying out of said activity, whereby said resource becomes inaccessible upon the completion of said activity.  
     
     
       14. The computer program of  claim 13 , further including: 
       means for providing to said user access to a plurality of basic computer resources without limitation to any assigned performable activity, and  
       whereby the computer resources made accessible to said user for carrying out said assigned activity boost the resources provided to the respective operators.  
     
     
       15. The computer program of  claim 14  wherein said means for providing said basic computer resources include means for displaying a basic set of elements each representing a basic computer resource selectively accessible by said user. 
     
     
       16. A computer program having program code included on a computer readable medium, operable in a network including a plurality of interconnected computer controlled display stations for receiving and sending data, for assigning data processing activities to users at receiving display stations comprising: 
       means for selecting a plurality of user performable activities,  
       means for predetermining for each performable activity, at least one normally inaccessible computer resource needed to carry out each performable activity,  
       means for assigning a performable activity to a user, and  
       means for sending to said user at a receiving display station, data representative of said assigned activity including:  
       means for accessing said computer resource needed to carry out said assigned activity by interactively displaying said resource at said receiving display station in association with said assigned activity, only during the carrying out of said activity, whereby said resource becomes inaccessible upon the completion of said activity.  
     
     
       17. The computer program of  claim 16 , wherein said network is the Internet, and said means for sending said data to said user is through electronic mail. 
     
     
       18. The computer program of  claim 17  wherein: 
       said means for interactively displaying said resource at the receiving display station is in the form of an inbox display listing said assigned activity, and  
       further including means for activating said assigned activity to thereby interactively display said at least one resource needed to carry out said assigned activity.